Well, a late game in San Jose makes it very difficult to get this recap done in a timely fashion. Since I required some sleep after the game, I have left myself only a little time to get this written before my actual paid employment starts. So, this will be shorter than my normal recap.
Once the puck was dropped to open up the game, the hometown Sharks took immediate control of the flow of play and set about testing the Jets’ defensive systems. Brossoit had to make a bunch of early saves as Winnipeg was pinned in their end for long periods, including a massive robbery when a San Jose player stepped across the front of the crease to try and tuck the puck in the far side. A great stretch by the backup as he slid across the crease saw him make a pad save on the attempt, but our squad was still stuck in their zone. The opening 5 minutes of the game saw SJ out-shoot Winnipeg 11 to 1, while they were out-skating the Jets and winning almost all the puck battles. Finally, the visitors realized the game had already started and they started to create a bit of offense of their own. After a rush by Lowry saw him fire a shot off Blackwood’s shoulder, Winnipeg followed up with cycle shifts by the top two trios. SJ was able to end the press by the Jets and dumped the puck back into the Jets’ zone. The forechecker was able to win the race to the puck along the back boards and sent the puck through the middle of the ice. Shark defenseman Bailey was wide open at the point when he received the pass, allowing him to step in a bit before wristing a perfect shot to the top left corner to give San Jose a 1-0 lead. Barron tried to respond for Winnipeg when he stole the puck in the neutral zone and went the other way, but his attempt at a 5 hole goal was denied by the SJ tender. The two franchises traded powerplay opportunities, but neither squad could get anything done with the man-advantage. Perfetti made a diving play on a backcheck to break up a San Jose rush, then Winnipeg went on the attack for a couple shifts. The Scheifele line almost got their team on the board when Vilardi deflected a Morrissey point shot and then Ehlers was denied on the rebound. The 2nd line dumped the puck into the SJ zone and it was defenseman Pionk who was first on the forecheck. He pressured the defender to send the puck along the board, but Dillon was there to keep it in the Sharks’ zone. The Jets’ defenseman wristed a chest height shot at the net and Namestnikov cut across the puck’s path, almost getting a stick on it to alter the direction. However, it was a good thing he didn’t, as the biscuit caught a piece of Blackwood’s glove before hitting twine in the top right corner. Winnipeg tied the game up with 4 minutes left in the opening period and the teams quickly traded scoring opportunities (Appleton rush for the Jets and an odd man Shark counter broken up by Schmidt). Vilardi was hauled down late in the period and Winnipeg had another PP that saw mostly perimeter passing, though a Schmidt point shot created a huge rebound that could have resulted in the go-ahead goal.
First Period Stats: Score: 1 to 1 tie, shots 15 to 15 tie, 60% Deserve To Win for the Sharks, Expected Goals – all situations (1.33-0.94 SJ), & 5 on 5 (1.29-0.92 SJ)
Winnipeg showed up to start the 2nd frame and controlled the play early. Vilardi won a battle along the boards to set up Morrissey for a shot from the slot, but once again a Jet player couldn’t corral the rebound. The Scheifele line created some more chances for the Jets and the 2nd unit followed up with pressure as well. A failed zone clear by the Jets saw San Jose’s Hoffman knock the puck out of the air before passing to a teammate right in front of Brossoit. He attempted to cut across the net, but the Jets’ tender stayed with him and got a pad on the shot attempt. Winnipeg went back on the attack and Pionk ended up drawing a holding call to send the Jets back to the powerplay. The Jets controlled the puck for almost the entire PP and had plenty of looks…Perfetti deflection off an Ehlers’ shot, Morrissey blast that found iron, & Perfetti stepping from behind the net to attempt to jam the puck through Blackwood’s pads. The Lowry trio followed up with some post-PK pressure and Niederreiter poked the puck off a defender’s stick in front of the net, but the puck just dribbled wide. A questionable penalty on a Pionk hip check that occurred a second after the SJ player dumped the puck into the Jets’ end stopped Winnipeg’s dominance of the game. The Sharks PP created some shots, but between Samberg’s blocks and Brossoit’s saves, they couldn’t break the tie with the man-advantage. The game really opened up in the final minutes of the 2nd, with the teams trading chances. Scheifele made an impressive last minute rush, but the defender bothered him enough that he was only able to get off a weak backhand attempt.
After Two Periods Stats Score: 1 to 1 tie, shots 29 to 26 for the Jets, 60% Deserve to Win for the Sharks, Expected Goals – all situations (2.31-1.78 SJ) & 5 on 5 (2.08-1.57 SJ)
The Jets began the 3rd period well, immediately testing Blackwood when a spinning Ehlers found Vilardi in the slot with a pass. The Namestnikov line followed that up with more pressure and Barron & Perfetti combined for another scoring chance. A puck over the glass penalty by San Jose sent Winnipeg to their 4th powerplay of the game and while the Jets dominated puck possession, great blocking from the Sharks kept the Jets from testing Blackwood. Winnipeg kept on pressing for the go-ahead marker and were out-shooting San Jose 35-26 at the midway point of the period. The Sharks finally pushed back in the second half of the frame and Brossoit had to come up big on a Granlund look from the blue paint. The officials made another questionable call on a DeMelo hook, giving SJ another powerplay chance late in the game. The Sharks started out pressing, but blocks by Barron & Samberg denied the looks. The Jets almost had a break when Gustafsson intercepted the puck and broke out on a 2 on 1 with Appleton. Unfortunately, Gus’s pass across was a bit too hot and in Apple’s feet, so his 1 timer narrowly missed a yawning cage. The Sharks went back on the attack with the man-advantage dwindling and were rewarded when an Eklund 1 timer beat Brossoit glove side. With time running out, Winnipeg tried to even things up with an strong shift by the top line that saw Scheifele draw the Jets’ 5th PP of the game. The man-advantage resulted in constant Jets’ puck possession, but incredible penalty killing saw the Sharks block every attempt on net. With Brossoit pulled, Winnipeg pushed for the last minute & a half and while the Jets did create a couple opportunities off of Scheifele & Lowry face-off wins. Unfortunately, time ran out just as Morrissey sent one last desperate shot wide of the net.
FINAL SCORE: SAN JOSE SHARKS 2 WINNIPEG JETS 1
SHOTS: WINNIPEG JETS 37 SAN JOSE SHARKS 32
Game Observations:
- Yet another slow start for our Winnipeg Jets, as the Sharks came out flying and leapt to a 11 to 1 shot advantage early in the 1st period. Our squad did pick up their play eventually, dominating long periods of the game. However, too many poor passes, shots that missed the net, and blocks by San Jose players limited the difficulty for goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood.
- Laurent Brossoit did all he could to get the Jets a win, turning aside 30 of 32 shots for a .938 save percentage. It’s too bad his team couldn’t provide a bit more offense to help him out, but that is back-to-back strong outings for Winnipeg’s backup.
- Josh Morrissey led the Jets in shots with 7, while Cole Perfetti was second (5). The only point of the game for a Winnipeg player went to Brendan Dillon, whose unassisted goal was the only puck to get by the SJ goaltender.
- Not a lot of players for the Jets stood out to me…..Perfetti was one of the few that played a full 60. The Lowry line was less impactful that normal and while the top 2 lines did create some offense, their play was inconsistent. I do have to give San Jose some credit, as they did an excellent job of keeping Winnipeg to the perimeter and clogging up the passing/shooting lanes effectively.
- MoneyPuck Stats: 57.1% Deserve to Win for the Sharks, 3.31 to 3.05 in expected goals (all situations) for the Sharks, and 3.01 to 2.86 in expected goals (5 on 5) for the Sharks.
The Winnipeg Jets really need to figure out how to start games on time. Especially without Kyle Connor’s scoring ability, our team can’t afford to waste any time when it comes to finding goals. Really like Cole Perfetti’s game last night, despite the Sharks attempted intimidation (they were running him all night). Also there are so many things to like about Gabe Vilardi’s game (eye-hand, stick-handling in tight spaces, strong along the boards, etc), Winnipeg really needs him to find his offensive game soon.
NEXT GAME: Winnipeg Jets @ Los Angeles Kings – Wednesday, December 13th @ 9:30 pm Central
Another late game tonight against a very effective team….Hellebuyck will be in net, but the Winnipeg Jets are going to need everyone in top form if they hope to pick up a win.
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